Tunnels of Doom

Tunnels of Doom
Tunnels of Doom Manual (Front Cover)
Publisher(s)	Texas Instruments (TI)
Original Retail Price	$59.95 (USD)
Programmer(s)	Kevin Kenney
Composer(s)	Frank Scheffel
Part#	PHM 3042
Format(s)	Solid State SoftwareTM Command Module
Release	1982 (2nd Quarter)
Genre(s)	Adventure, Role-Playing Game (RPG)

Tunnels of Doom was a simplistic Role-Playing Game (RPG) released by Texas Instruments (TI) during the second quarter of 1982. It became popular with those who played Dungeons and Dragons on paper. Similar to the Adventure series of games written by Scott Adams, the game required a cartridge and either a cassette tape or floppy disk to play. The floppy or cassette-based game originally retailed for $59.95 (USD).

Gameplay

After loading the game and database either from the cassette tape or the floppy disk, the player creates his/her party between 1 and 4 characters, that will explore the dungeons throughout the game. The player selects the number of floors the dungeon has, between 1 and 10, after which the dungeon is randomly generated. Larger sized (aka: number of floors) dungeons take longer to generate than smaller ones.

The game always starts off with the party in the shop right above the first floor of the dungeon. The player has enough gold to outfit his/her party in the shop. After making essential purchases for his/her party, the player then leaves the shop to go on the adventure.

Each floor of the game contains approximately 20 rooms and 2 sets of stairs. Rooms are connected by hallways. Inside of rooms, the player has a top-down view of the room, it's walls and contents. Rooms contain a randomly generated number of monsters to be destroyed, usually between 1 to 5, but occasionally contain 0. Rooms may also contain other items such as a single treasure, or a chest containing multiple treasures. The center of rooms may also contain a living statue of a fountain. In hallways, the game changes into a 3-D view.

The game has two adventures to choose from, "Pennies and Prizes" and "Quest for the King." Pennies and Prizes is meant for the younger players while the Quest for the King is a much more complex version of the game. The game also had a game editor that could be used to create one's own adventure.

Advertising Blurbs

Front Cover of Manual

Enter a world of fantasy where your instincts and imagination determine your chances of survival. Your journey is about to begin -- prepare yourself.

Back Cover of Manual

You are about to enter a labyrinth of tunnels and rooms where all the myriad realms of fantasy coexist to challenge all would-be heroes. With the Tunnels of Doom Solid State Software^TM Command Module and one of the many cassette- or diskette-based games, you can enter into a journey beyond your imagination.

For your convenience, two games, Pennies and Prizes and Quest for the King, are included with the module. Look forward to future Tunnels of Doom games.

Manual

Introduction

You are about to take your first step into the unknowns of the Tunnels of Doom where all the myriad realms of fantasy coexist to challenge all would-be heroes. Descending deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of tunnels and rooms, you are faced with innumerable monsters blocking your path and guarding treasures. You are a member of a rescue party, or perhaps, an unsuspecting soul trying to escape from the murky depths. No matter what the circumstance may be, you must gather all your strength and wits to survive the Tunnels of Doom.

Tunnels of Doom is a role-playing adventure that stimulates your imagination and challenges your survival instincts. You are not just a spectator but an active member of the party entering the dark, mysterious depths. You are in control of what happens to your players, and eventually, you become the character journeying through the Tunnels of Doom.

To play Tunnels of Doom, you need both the Tunnels of Doom Solid State Software^TM Command Module and a cassette- or diskette-based Tunnels of Doom game. The module contains the general program instructions which are customized by the particular cassette tape or diskette game you use with it. For your convenience, two games, Pennies and Prizes and Quest of the King, are included with the module.

Using this Manual

This manual is designed as a guide and reference book for all Tunnels of Doom data-based games. Although the majority of the manual concentrates on the Quest of the King game, the information pertains to all Tunnels of Doom games with some games having minor variations.

To play Tunnels of Doom, you need the Tunnels of Doom Command Module and a diskette- or cassette-based game. If you are using a diskette-based Tunnels of Doom game, you need a TI Disk Drive Controller and TI Disk Memory Drive (sold separately). If you are using a cassette-based game, you need a cassette tape recorder and a TI Cassette Interface Cable; refer to the "Loading Cassettes" section for instructions.

The two Tunnels of Doom games which have been included with this Command Module - Quest of the King and Pennies and Prizes - are described in this manual. Quest of the King is discussed in detail. Pennies and Prizes is a simplified version of Quest of the King and is only briefly explained.

"Saving a Game" explains how to save a game that you can continue at a later date. To save a game, you need a separate cassette tape or diskette; then follow the directions in "Saving a Game."

Special key functions have been set up for all Tunnels of Doom games. These are listed in a "Special Key Functions" section for easy reference. In addition, a "Vocabulary" section explains the meaning of words discussed throughout the manual. These words may change from one game to another, but the majority of words exist in all Tunnels of Doom games.

Now that you are familiar with this manual, let's begin our journey through the Tunnels of Doom.

Special Key Funtions

Note that the key sequences required to access special functions depend on the type of computer console you have. These keystroke sequences are summarized below.

TI-99/A	TI-99/4A
↑ E, ← S, → D, ↓ X	↑ E, ← S, → D, ↓ X	Move your party through hallways and rooms. Move your players during combat. Move the cursor before firing a ranged weapon.
Shift X(↓)	FCTN X(↓)	Moves your party down a flight of stairs.
Shift E (↑)	FCTN E(↑)	Moves your party up a flight of stairs.
Shift A (AID)	FCTN 7 (AID)	Displays the Command Summary of special key functions.
Shift R (REDO)	FCTN 8 (REDO)	Changes information and enters new information. Refuses monster's price during negotiations.
Shift Z (BACK)	FCTN 9 (BACK)	Returns from looking at a status report, map, or Command Summary.
Shift V(PROC'D)	FCTN 6 (PROC'D)	Proceeds to the next display or action. Leaves the store.
Shift T (ERASE)	FCTN 3 (ERASE)	Erases your selection if pressed before you press ENTER.
Shift S (←)	Shift S (←)	Moves the cursor to the left, deleting each character.
ENTER	ENTER	Inputs information. Passes a player's turn during combat. Leaves a treasure in a room. Returns from buying items in a store's subcategory, from using an item, and from selecting an item at a living statue.
Shift W (BEGIN)	FCTN 5 (BEGIN)	Goes to the game selection display.
Shift Q (QUIT)	FCTN = (QUIT)	Returns to the master title screen
K	K	Saves a game.
1	1	Shows player status report.
2	2	Shows party status report.
3	3	Shows monster status report.
F	F	Fires a ranged weapon
M	M	Shows the map.
N	N	Negotiates with monsters during a battle.
U	U	Enables a player to use a magic item.
W	W	Changes a player's weapons.
C	C	Checks for secret doors.
B	B	Enables the party to break through a door.
L	L	Enables the party to listen at a door which is adjacent to and facing the party.
O	O	Changes party formation.
T	T	Trades items between players except during a battle.

Using the Solid State Software^TM Command Module

Before you use the Tunnels of Doom game package, a cassette recorder or the TI Disk Memory System must be properly attached to the computer and turned on. (See the User's Reference Guide or the Disk Memory System owner's manual for complete set-up instructions.)

An automatic reset feature is built into the computer. When a module is inserted into the console, the computer returns to the master title screen. All data or program material you have entered will be erased.

Note: Be sure the module is free of static electricity before inserting it into the computer (see page 38).

1. Turn the computer ON, and wait for the master title screen to appear. Then slide the module into the slot on the console.
2. Press any key to make the master selection list appear. To select the module, press the key corresponding to the number beside TUNNELS OF DOOM.

Note: To remove the module, first return the computer to the master title screen by pressing QUIT. Then remove the module from the slot. If you have any problem inserting the module, or if it is accidentally removed from the slot while in use, please see "In Case of Difficulty" on page 39.

Getting Started

After you select the module, the Tunnels of Doom title screen appears. Press any key to continue. If no key is pressed after several seconds, the display automatically goes to the load data-base screen. The program then asks you to answer a few preliminary questions before the game actually begins. First, you are asked how you are loading the data-base.

To play a cassette-based Tunnels of Doom game, insert the tape into your recorder and position it at the start of the game (see "Loading Cassettes"). Then press 1 for CASSETTE. Now follow the step-by-step instructions on the display to load the game into the computer's memory.

If the game is on diskette, insert the appropriate diskette into Disk Drive 1. Then press 2 for DISK 1. Next, you are asked for the filename, where filename is the name of the game on the diskette. For example, since the filename for Quest of the King is QUEST, you would type QUEST and press ENTER. The game automatically loads into the computer's memory.

To load your database from a source other than the two just mentioned, press 3 for OTHER. Enter the filename. If you want to load a previously stored game, press the number corresponding to the device on which you saved the game - disk, cassette, or other. If you saved the game on a disk, type the filename you chose to identify that game. After you press ENTER, you can continue from where you left off.

Saving a Game

As you play a Tunnels of Doom game, you may decide that you want to continue the game at another time. To save a game, press K. The display asks how you are going to save the game (cassette, disk, or other). If you are saving the game on a diskette, you can replace the diskette in the disk drive with another diskette or you can save the game on the diskette already in the disk drive. Press 5 to save the game on the diskette. You then are asked for the filename you want to use. Type any name to identify this game and press ENTER. Be sure that a file with the name you choose is not already on the diskette. Otherwise, the game replaces that file.

To save a game on a cassette tape, remove the tape in the recorder and replace it with the tape on which you want to save the game. Then press 4 and follow the instructions on the display. The game replaces any other information on the tape.

Vocabulary

The following terms are used for all the Tunnels of Doom data-bases.

Armor - Used in defense during combat. It decreases an enemy's chance of hitting a player.

Bonus - Affects a character's combat chances; inherent in a player rather than from an object the player carries.

Class - Defines a player's skills and the limitations of his trade.

Damage - Determines the amount of wounds a monster can take before being eliminated. For weapons and monster attacks, refers to the relative amount of wounding each can do to an enemy during combat.

Experience - Refers to the points received by a player for eliminating a monster. Experience controls the level of a player's abilities.

Hit Points - Determines the number of wounds a player can take before becoming disabled.

Item - Indicates a treasure with special powers.

Level - Indicates a player's or monster's overall abilities.

Luck - Refers to one of a player's abilities.

Object - Refers to anything in the dungeon that can have the quality being discussed.

Option - Relates to the set of commands a player can choose from at any given time.

Party - Refers to the group of players exploring the dungeon.

Quest Object - Relates to any of those items the party is searching for in the dungeon.

Treasure - Indicates those items that can be found in the dungeon - gold, weapons and armor, magic items, and quest objects.

Wounds - Refers to the amount of damage the player has received.

Pennies and Prizes

Pennies and Prizes is a Tunnels of Doom game designed for children and demonstration purposes. The dungeon is comprised of one to four floors and there are eight quest objects to find. Unlike Quest of the King, the dungeon has no monsters, weapons, or magical items.

The game is played with one player, a Traveler. The computer refers to this player as "ME," but you can change the name at the beginning of the game.

Getting Started

Before you begin, follow the directions in the "Using the Solid State Software^TM Command Module" section in this manual. In addition, refer to the "Getting Started" section for information on loading a cassette- or diskette-based game.

After the title screen has been displayed, you are asked from what source you are loading the game. If you are using a diskette, press 2 for DISK 1. With a diskette, you then are asked for the filename. Type PENNIES and press ENTER. If you are using a cassette recorder, press 1 for CASSETTE and follow the directions on the display. If you have any problems loading your game, see the "Set-Up Instructions" or "In Case of Difficulty" section.

After your game is loaded, the next display is the game selection list. Press 1 to construct a new dungeon or 2 to restock the dungeon that has been previously prepared. If you press 1, you then are asked "How many floors? (1-4)" you want in the dungeon. To make your choice, type the corresponding number and press ENTER. Next, you must decide the level of difficulty - easiest, medium, or hardest. Press 1, 2, or 3 to make your choice.

When you finish making your selections, the player information is displayed. Press REDO if you want to change any of the data or press PROC'D if all the information is correct. If you press REDO, the display changes and asks for the player's name and color. Enter your selections and then press BACK. When the information is displayed again, press PROC'D to continue.

Playing Pennies and Prizes

After the dungeon has been constructed or restocked, your Traveler appears in the first room of the dungeon. In the lower left-hand corner of the room is a sign pointing to the stairs in the opposite corner of the room. To descend to the first floor of the dungeon, press SHIFT X (↓) on the TI-99/4 computer console or FCTN X (↓) on the TI-99/4A computer console.

To move through rooms and hallways, press the appropriate arrow keys. This is explained in the "Movement" section of this manual under "Quest of the King".

You can look at a map of the floor you are presently on by pressing M. The unexplored areas of the floor appear in blue and the chartered areas appear in black.

Object of Pennies and Prizes

In Pennies and Prizes, you must explore the dungeon, looking for eight quest objects - a puppy, a snail, a parakeet, a fish bowl, a picture, a top, stardust, and magic glass. No time limit exists in which you have to find these quest objects, but you must find all eight to be successful. In addition to the quest objects, you can find pennies along the way to add to your riches.

To see your party status report, press 2 at any time during the game. The list of quest objects is displayed. "FOUND" appears beside those items that you have found. The report also states how many pennies you have accumulated so far on your journey.

End of Your Quest

When you find all eight of the quest objects, your quest is completed. You can continue to explore the dungeon, collecting pennies. To start another game of Pennies and Prizes, press BEGIN to return to the game selection list. To end a session of Pennies and Prizes, press QUIT.

Quest of the King

For your convenience, the Quest of the King game has been included in this package. The following information relates to this game.

Sample Quest

To help you become familiar with Tunnels of Doom, a sample Quest of the King has been included for you. Follow the "Getting Started" section to load the game into the computer. When the game selection list is on the display, press 3 for CONTINUE CURRENT GAME.

In the sample quest, you find yourself in a two-story dungeon with the easiest level of difficulty. You've been assigned a rescue party made up of three players.

Player 1, Eric Seablade, appears in blue on the display. He is a fighter and is armed with a sword, shield, and leather armor. Player 2 is a rogue named Mauve d'Orm-mul who appears in magenta. This player is equipped with a hand axe and a short bow with 40 arrows. Mauve also has leather armor. Forestall Grimm is Player 3. Forestall appears on the display as a green wizard. He is armed with a dagger and a sling. (For information concerning player characteristics, see "Preparing for Your Quest.")

After you press 3 to start the sample quest, your party members appear in the first room of the dungeon. The General Store symbol is in the lower left-hand corner of the room and a set of stairs is in the right-hand comer. The display immediately changes and the General Store category list appears (see "General Store").

At the start of each quest, your party is allotted a certain amount of gold pieces. All but 100 gold pieces have been spent on equipping your party members with the items stated above. It is not necessary to spend all of your gold, but for purposes of this sample quest, let's spend some more. To buy rations for your party's journey, press 6 and then ENTER. You now have bought 10 rations for 20 gold pieces. "Purchased" appears at the bottom of the display. Press any key to continue.

You now have 80 gold pieces left. Press PROC'D and your party appears in the first room again. Stairs lead down to the first floor of the dungeon. To descend into the depths of the dungeon where your journey begins, press SHIFT or FCTN ↓.

Upon reaching the first floor, your party appears in a room with two exits. The prompt "Select movement option" appears at the bottom of the display. Press → to leave the room to the right.

Your party is now in a hallway facing east. (The direction your party is facing and moving appears at the top of the display.) Press ↑ to go forward. Continue pressing ↑ until you are in the intersection of the hall perpendicular to you. Then press → and your party is now facing south. A door is at the end of the hallway. Press ↑ to go forward until you are directly in front of the door.

Note: Any time your party is walking through the dungeon's hallways, roving monsters may appear. Your party must eliminate or negotiate with the monsters to proceed through the dungeon (see "Monster Attack" or "Negotiation").

To enter the room your party is facing, press ↑ (see "Entering a Room" for details). Inside the room is a vault. Information concerning the combination appears at the bottom of the display. "Who will open the vault?" appears and you must enter a player's name. Enter Mauve d'Orm-mul by typing M and pressing ENTER. That player's hit points (HP) and wounds (WD) are then displayed.

Next, enter three combination numbers in the range given, such as 312. Your guess appears in the top right-hand corner of the display (see "Vaults"). Continue guessing numbers using the arrows beside the numbers as a guide. When you find the combination, the message "You have found the combination!" appears at the bottom of the display.

To see what treasures lie within the vault, press any key. Inside the vault are 200 gold pieces! Press any key and you also find a magical lantern! Next, the prompt "Give to?" appears. Enter E and the lantern is given to Eric Seablade. When you press any key again, you see that you also have found leather armor! Answer the prompt "Give to?" by entering F. The armor then is given to Forestall Grimm.

To leave the room, press ←. Continue going west by pressing ↑. When you reach the end of the hallway, a door is to your left. Press ← to face the door, and then press ↑ to enter the room. Watch out! Inside, two Oozes are guarding a treasure chest! The battle begins.

The display changes to the combat screen (see "Combat"). Player 1 begins the battle using his sword (this information appears at the bottom of the display). Using the arrow keys, move Eric Seablade one step in any direction. If an Ooze is directly beside him, press the arrow key in that direction; if not, press ENTER.

Next, it is Player 2's turn to fight. Mauve is using a hand axe. If the Oozes are not next to this player, press W and Mauve changes weapons and is now using a short bow (see "Changing Weapons"). Press F and a cursor appears over Mauve. Use the arrow keys to position the cursor over a monster. Then press the SPACE BAR to fire the bow.

Forestall Grimm, Player 3, is next to fight but has not entered the room. Since Eric Seablade moved from his original place, press ↓ and Forestall is now in the room. He is using a dagger to battle the deadly Oozes. If an Ooze is not directly beside him, press ENTER.

By this time, you may have eliminated one or both of the monsters. Remember that it may be necessary to hit a monster several times before eliminating it. The battle continues until the Oozes are eliminated. Then the message "Who will open the chest?" asks you to enter a player's name. Be careful, this may be a trap! Since Mauve d'Orm-mul is a rogue and has special trap avoidance abilities, enter M.

After you enter Mauve's name, the contents of the chest are displayed for you. You have found 60 gold pieces! Press any key and you find a map of the first floor! Next, "Select movement option" appears on the display; press ← to leave the room.

Before you continue with the quest, let's look at the map you just found. Press M and the map of this floor is displayed. Everything in blue indicates those areas unchartered; black shows the halls and rooms you've explored. Press BACK when you are finished.

Going west, enter the next room directly in front of you. Inside this room you find a magical scroll. Answer the prompt "Give to?" by entering a player's name. For example, enter F and the scroll is given to Forestali Grimm, Player 3.

Now press ↑ to leave the room to the north. Take only one step and a hallway entrance is to your left. Press ← and your party starts down this hallway. An object appears in the middle of the hall. When you approach, you realize it is a fountain. "Who will use the fountain?" is displayed. If you want a player to drink from the fountain, enter the player's name. If not, just press ENTER. Note: A fountain can be beneficial or detrimental to the player drinking (see "Fountain").

After all the players who wanted to use the fountain have done so, continue going west down the hallway. At the end of the hall a door is to your left. Position your party so that they are facing the door. Press ↑ to enter the room and you find a set of stairs leading down to the second floor of the dungeon. Press SHIFT or FCTN ↓ to descend.

When you reach the second floor, leave the room to your right. Continue to the east until you reach the end of the hallway, and then press ← and go north. Continue north until you reach the end of the hall. At the end is a door.

Enter the room. Inside you find another vault. Read the information concerning the combination (for details see "Vaults") and follow the same procedure as before. When you open the vault, you have found 200 gold pieces! Press any key and you see that you also have found a sword. When the question "Give to?" appears, enter a player's name to receive the sword. Enter Eric's name since he is carrying only one weapon. If a name is not entered, the sword is dropped.

Again, press any key to continue. Congratulations, you have found the King! The monsters were holding him captive inside the vault. You were just in time, too, the air in the vault was almost gone! Your quest is now half over. Next, you must find the King's orb of power!

To continue your quest, press ← and leave the room by the west exit. Enter the room directly in front of you, but be very careful! Inside you find three Gremlins. Again the display changes to the combat screen and the battle begins, but beware, your players' chances are almost even with the monsters. During the battle, one or more of your players may become disabled. If a player's wounds equal the hit points, the player's image disappears from the display (see "Disabled Players").

After your party eliminates the Gremlins, the prompt "Select movement option is displayed. Leave the room to the north. As your party travels north, a door is at the end of the hallway. Enter the room. Watch out! Three Metalloids are guarding a fountain and a treasure chest. Again, the battle commences and your players' chances are about even with the monsters. However, your players are strong and have gained a lot of experience eliminating other monsters along the way.

After your party eliminates the Metalloids, enter the player's name who is to open the chest. You've found 280 gold pieces! When you press another key, you see something else inside the chest. You have found the King's rainbow orb of power! Your quest has been successful!

When you press any key to continue, you are asked "Who will use the fountain?". Enter the players' names who are to drink from the fountain. Press ENTER when you are finished.

To see the status reports of your players, press 1 (see "Player Status Reports"). If you want to see the party status report, press 2 and the display shows you how much money the party has accumulated and that the two quest objects have been found.

You must return to the top of the dungeon to win the game. However, your party can either continue to search the dungeon for treasure and fight off monsters, which gains more experience for your players, or work its way to the top of the dungeon.

You can continue using the sample quest as a base to try out the special options in the game, such as negotiating with monsters, using a living statue, or using a magical item. As you become better acquainted with the game, create your own dungeon and start out on the adventure of the Quest of the King.

Object of Your Quest

In Quest of the King, your mission is to rescue the King before he is eliminated. He is being held captive by monsters in the dark unknowns of the dungeon under a ruined castle. You also must retrieve the King's rainbow orb of power before it is destroyed. Beware, your time is limited.

On every step of the journey, your party is faced with the perils of the dungeon. Monsters lurk in hallways and guard treasures. You must fight off the attacks and find as many treasures as possible to help you succeed in your quest. Beware of the obstacles that may arise, and don't act too hastily or your party may be destroyed!

Timers

Throughout your quest, the Tunnels of Doom clock counts the steps your party takes. Steps are counted each time a hallway view is shown. Checking for secret doors and listening at doors take one step in time. After every 10 steps, the quest objects' "countdown" is lowered. (This is considered the "Countdown to Destruction.") You have a limited amount of time to locate your quest objects before they are destroyed. Quest objects have no powers and do not affect the game after they are found. However, almost all quest objects have time limitations.

In addition, other factors are examined at this point. First, magic spell duration may be lowered. Second, players may be partially healed if rations are available (see "General Store"). Third, the party may consume some rations.

Preparing for Your Quest

Before your quest begins, you must answer a few questions concerning the dungeon, your rescue party, and the difficulty of the quest. The first question asks "How many floors? (1-10)" do you want in the dungeon. With more floors in the dungeon, the number of dangerous and deadly monsters that roam increases and more enticing treasures can be found. Type your selection and press ENTER.

The second question pertains to the "Number of players? (l-4)" you want to have in the party. With more players, more money is allotted to the party (see "General Store"). If you have only one player, you may choose from four different characters. If there are two or more players in your party, you have a choice of only three characters. The number of players you have changes the variety of your quest. Type the number of your choice, and then press ENTER.

Third, decide the level of difficulty ( I-Easiest, 2-Medium, 3-Hardest). The level of difficulty relates to the number and meanness of monsters in the dungeon and the amount of money that is allotted to your party at the beginning of your quest. Press 1, 2, or 3.

The next display asks for information concerning the players. First, type the name that identifies Player 1. (The first letter of each player's name should be different.) Next, choose the class (fighter, wizard, rogue, or hero) for this player. The attributes for each class are explained here.

• Fighter - Can use all weapons and armor but cannot use scrolls (one type of magic item).

• Wizard - Limited in the use of weapons and armor but can use scrolls; starts the game with one scroll.

• Rogue - Can use all weapons, limited in the use of armor, and cannot use scrolls. Has a better chance of avoiding traps on vaults and chests.

• Hero - Can be used only in a one-player game. Can use all weapons, armor, and scrolls, and has the rogue's trap avoidance ability; starts the game with one scroll.

External links

• CRPG Addict: Tunnels of Doom
• Ed Burns Tunnel of Doom Tribute Page
• Everything₂: Tunnels of Doom
• Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: Tunnels of Doom!
• Moby Games: Tunnel of Doom
• TI-99/4A Video Game House: Tunnels of Doom